SENSATIONAL Sizing Europe strengthened his credentials as champion chaser with a rout of old foe Big Zeb in the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained 10-year-old dismissed Colm Murphy’s 2010 Queen Mother winner with relative ease in what turned into a straight shootout in the Grade Two heat.

Andrew Lynch adopted positive tactics on Sizing Europe and took over from the big outsider, Imperial Shabra, on the first fence after which he was never headed.

Big Zeb loomed up, looking briefly threatening between the final two fences, before Lynch kicked clear.

Murphy’s charge had no answer to the 9-10 favourite who ran out a 15-length winner.

Big Zeb had been favourite all week but there was plenty of confidence in Sizing Europe on course and the pair swapped positions in the market.

Now super Sizing is heading back to Prestbury Park next month as a short-priced favourite to regain his crown and retain his staus as the game’s best two-mile chaser.

Lynch said: “He did it well. The plan was to go out and enjoy it and use his jumping.

“I wanted to use his big stride and though the ground was tacky he’s getting stronger now and handles it better. He should improve as he hadn’t run since the Tingle Creek.”

Sizing Europe has been quoted as the 5-4 favourite to defend his Queen Mother crown and a disappointed Murphy said of Big Zeb: “Robbie Power was never happy with him and said he was always niggling just to keep in touch.

“In fairness the winner was very good. He’s gone a proper gallop on heavy ground.”